pet connection

Last week I told you about the new cat at 10 Downing Street. Today, much bigger news.

Along with a new/old governor, the Golden State has a new First Dog. Welcome to Sutter (you gotta love the name), a Pembroke Welsh corgi. Governor Jerry Brown and First Lady Anne Gust Brown are happy to have 7-year-old Sutter in Sacramento after losing their previous dog, Dharma, last year. The Los Angeles Times reports that Sutter is already on the job.

“He finds all the extra food lying on the floor in the office,” Gust Brown told the Sacramento Bee of Sutter’s job duties. “He barks at anyone, he gives snuggles, he warms up the Republicans.” Beyond Republican-warming, his hobbies include herding and accompanying the Browns on jogs.

Corgi fanciers know the breed, famous for their appetite and their herding talent, is a longtime favorite of Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty has owned and bred Corgis since she was a teenager. If you are active on Twitter, you can follow Sutter @SutterBrown.

A mess in Memphis: There is no other way to say it – the Memphis Animal Shelter is broken. Shirley at YesBiscuit will give you the latest. The shelter’s director is definitely a piece of work.

Tell eBay to do the right thing: Technically, live animals cannot be sold on eBay. Unfortunately, all bets are off when it comes to their classifieds. That means that puppy milling scum have an unfettered avenue to do, and sell, whatever they want. You can support Change.org‘s petition to shut down this blatant loophole.

A true hero: James Campbell leases a kennel housing greyhounds. The kennel sits adjacent to the Derby Lane track in St. Petersburg, Fla. Last week, in the middle of the night, he was alerted by security that the kennel was on fire. A total of 46 greyhounds were trapped inside. Mr. Campbell rushed to the kennel and rescued the dogs — all of them. Meanwhile, the place was quickly burning to the ground. From the Tampa Tribune:

“It didn’t matter to me how much flames, how much smoke,” said Campbell, a father of three. “I was going in. I was getting my dogs.”

“I put them right below my kids,” he said. “Without thinking, I went in.”

There were 46 greyhounds in 46 crates stacked two high, with names such as JR’s Boy and Backwood Omar. As the fire crackled to life in the back of the kennel, with flames he described as 20 feet high, Campbell started quickly, but methodically, rescuing the dogs.

He unlatched the crate on top, helped the dog out, unlatched the crate underneath it, let that dog out. Then he went to the next stack, working down a row. Some of the dogs appeared to be oblivious to the peril, wagging their tails and staying close to Campbell rather than escaping through a side door into a penned area outside, he said.

“They still wanted to play,” he said. “They didn’t act any different. I’m not sure they were even aware of what was going on.”

Others were more easily led – or went on their own – to the penned area outside.

The fire department’s preliminary investigation points to the kennel’s HVAC system as the fire’s probable cause. (Tip of the cap to Cathy A.)

ASPCA-PetSmart partnership: In an ongoing effort to expand services across the country, ASPCA is putting clinics in place to assist with supplying ID tags and collars in selected communities. The project is underwritten by a just-announced $115,000 grant from PetSmart Charities.

Annandale’s gone to the dogs: Annandale, Virginia, just inside the Beltway, is a lovely place to raise a family. Ms. Beatha Lee relocated to Annandale from her previous home in Maine, and was nominated for the presidency of Annandale’s Hillbrook-Tall Oaks Civic Association.  Ms. Lee was elected easily. However, as the Washington Post tells the story, Ms. Lee will have some difficulty chairing meetings. It isn’t that she’s particularly old, it’s just that Beatha Lee is a Wheaten terrier. (Thanks, Susan)

Two unforgettable photo essays: In light of the Whistler massacre, how about a look at some sled dogs (thanks, Ericka). Next, as we wrap up coverage of Westminster, a final look at the doings in Manhattan, courtesy of the Boston Globe‘s Big Picture. Oh, and by the way, PawNation would like you to know positive reinforcement training is the norm at Westminster.

Remember the Ramones? They got the lyrics wrong. If this tune gets stuck in your head the rest of today, you’ll be in good company. Happened to me, too. Blame Animal Friends.

Turtle vs. kitteh: Ericka sent me this one, too. Tough little turtle, there. Liz, are you sure this one isn’t yours?

Engineer’s guide to cats: I neglected to ask Patti S. if she was an engineer when she forwarded this video, but now I feel much more enlightened.

I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail.

Photo credit: Sutter, Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times. James Campbell, Chip Osowski/TBO.

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Where pets are concerned, what may be the most-watched legislative battle in the country is brewing in the New York State Assembly.

Oreo’s Law (Bill 4480) would mandate all municipal shelters in the state hand over any animal in their care to a non-profit animal protection organization if the animal is scheduled to die, and provided the non-profit wants and is able to take possession. The language of Oreo’s Law has been reworked a bit since it was introduced in Albany last year, where it died in committee.

High profile groups are lining up in favor of Oreo’s Law. The latest is Alley Cat Allies. In a carefully worded release, ACA admitted the bill could be improved, but they’ll stand behind it:

Alley Cat Allies believes that when it comes to animals’ lives, it’s important for animal advocates to work together to ensure all animals’ best interests are considered. We will continue to work with New York State and others to ensure all animals receive the protections they truly deserve. More important than any single bill is the guarantee of shelter access, and Bill 4480 is just the beginning of shelter reform. Above and beyond preventing animals from being killed in shelters, we also need to prevent feral cats from entering them at all.

Careful isn’t a word usually associated with Nathan Winograd. He skewers Best Friends Animal Society for being decidedly against 4480. Before borrowing a juicy paragraph from our own Christie Keith, Nathan equates Best Friends with the administration of a recently deposed world leader:

Choosing to defend the rights of shelters to kill animals in the face of readily available rescue alternatives, Best Friends CEO Hosni Mubarak, I mean Gregory Castle, says the people cannot be trusted. That corruption and oppression by the current regime should continue. Those in power should stay in power. Rescue groups should continue watching the animals they want to save be put to death. Their pain, their oppression, their hurt, not to mention the needless violence inflicted on the animals, should continue. But he cannot come right out and say that. And so he and Omar Suleiman, I mean Francis Battista, claim that the people are not ready for democracy. And hence lies the real issue: money and power.

As long as Nathan keeps doing what he does, I’ll never be bored.

Attention rodents: There’s a new sheriff at 10 Downing. The downsizing of the British government doesn’t preclude new hires being made when necessary. The newest staff serving Prime Minister David Cameron is named Larry.  Larry is a tabby, and has been appointed the latest Ten Downing Cat. Unauthorized rats have been spotted on the premises, and as both BBC and NPR tell us, the PM is taking decisive action.

All hail Hickory: Rawley the Deerhound is a happy boy today, because on Tuesday night, Westminster crowned Hickory, a gorgeous Deerhound America’s top dog. The New York Times has a sortable photo essay showing 102 best of breed winners. Right here and now, I predict that 2012 will be The Year of the Dachshund.

The newest Canadians: Los Angeles is chock full of Chihuahuas, in no small part because L.A. is a movie town, and Chihuahuas have been popular film dogs. Paris Hilton doesn’t help matters, either. Today, there are so many of the little guys and girls clogging shelters in that corner of California that they need to be exported, or else. So what’s the solution? Air Chihuahua — destination: Edmonton. Dress warmly, kids. You’re not in Hollywood any more. Thanks to PetMD for the link.

Stain remover worth checking out: My pal Ericka Basile has a new product review post up this week. Ericka reviews The Equalizer (I just love the name), by Vetoquinol.

A Flounder/Tiger Mom: I enjoyed this post from Kathy Flake on how she negotiates training with her Golden, the lovable Sparky.

I could stay here forever: This article from the Wall Street Journal confounds me. I have read it five times. I still don’t know how I feel about it. Want to be buried with your pet? How about part of you being buried with your pet? Yeah, it’s definitely thinking outside the box. Or urn.

Two cat videos you will love…I hope. ABC News has the story of a cat burglar. Not a figure of speech. This guy must have done hard time in a previous life. Finally, my #1 favorite video of the week. Snooky lives with a musician. That means there’s a metronome in the house. Snooky met the metronome. Although there’s a happy ending, you MUST watch the whole thing. Then watch it again. Eventually, you’ll watch it without laughing. Let’s see how many viewings that takes.

I always like to hear from readers, especially if you have tips, and links for interesting stories.  Give me a shout in the comments, or better yet, send me an e-mail

Photo credit: Cat in cage, alleycat.org. Hickory, Spencer Platt/Getty.

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Every puppy mill story is a nightmare, but the details of this one are particularly sordid. In the February 1 edition of DVM Newsmagazine, editor Rachael Whitcomb describes an outbreak of canine distemper virus resulting in euthanasia of more than 1000 dogs. Now here’s the kicker— the dogs were all from the same kennel! How I wish I’d read this incorrectly, but no. From the article:

More than 1000 dogs were euthanized as a last resort to thwart a canine distemper virus (CDV) outbreak at a USDA-licensed Kansas kennel, reports Dr. Bill Brown, Kansas’ Livestock Commissioner.

Am I supposed to feel better because the U.S. Department of Agriculture was “riding shotgun”? No, in fact their involvement makes the situation all the more deplorable. Canine distemper is completely preventable. How did the lethal combination of overcrowded, unclean conditions and inadequate vaccinations — the only way canine distemper can run rampant –  manage to slip under the USDA radar?

Apparently quarantine (isolation of affected dogs) had been tried, but was ineffective, primarily because of the sheer numbers of dogs. From the Kansas Animal Health Department:

Quarantine in place was not an option due to the inability of the facility to continue to feed, water and care for the dogs, as well as the continued circulation of virus throughout the facility. The large number of dogs housed at the kennel made testing unfeasible. [...] Since officials could not determine whether or not each dog was free from infection, officials made the decision to euthanize the animals.

Apparently, the decision to euthanize so many dogs was difficult. (no kidding!). Again, from the Kansas Livestock Commissioner:

This difficult decision was the last choice of the department and the breeder, but in the end, all believe it was the only humane way to accomplish both objectives to prevent the spread of disease and protect the dogs from prolonged suffering.

The irony of Dr. Brown’s statement sticks in my craw. How in the world does the word “humane” apply to the existence of a puppy mill housing more than a thousand dogs? Isn’t “prolonged suffering” an apt description for the lives of dogs kept solely for the purpose of producing puppies for profit in overcrowded conditions? With more than a thousand dogs to care for, I’m dubious that any of this “livestock” had access to basic amenities such as sufficient space to turn and stretch freely, adequate nutrition, clean water, appropriate veterinary care, adequate rest between heat cycles, or, God forbid, some human kindness.

The poor dogs in this story are puppy mill victims, plain and simple. I hope you will join in the effort to prevent future similar stories from happening. If you are a teacher, educate your students about puppy mills. Teach them about responsible ways to adopt a dog. And by all means, boycott puppy mills and encourage others to do the same. This means never ever purchasing a puppy from a pet store or from an on-line source (site and sight unseen). Let’s turn our outrage into productive efforts to eradicate puppy mills.

Photo credit: TammyB, PuppyMill Awareness Day

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It’s almost time for the Westminster Dog Show (next week in New York), which means I will be hearing plenty of biased commentary and heated discussion about mutts versus purebred dogs.

A couple of years ago, the rhetoric reached new heights with all the speculation about who would become the Obama family’s “First Fido.” Even people without dogs felt compelled to join in the bantering and bickering.

Between my own dogs and my beloved patients, I have plenty of first-hand familiarity with the virtues and vices of the purebred versus mixed breed experience. I can assure you, there are plenty of both! This is why I shrug my shoulders when confronted with people bent on convincing me that their preference should be my preference.

Would I ever try to convince someone that one is better? No way. I’m a big believer in “live and let live” as long as no one gets hurt. Trust me, after raising three children and working with more dog-loving clients than I can count, I’ve learned to pick my battles wisely.

For example, if a client tells me their dog is a German Shepherd yet I see before me an Australian Shepherd, I don’t try to correct my client. I prefer to let sleeping dogs lie, so to speak. No harm done because, whatever kind of herding dog he is, I will treat his diabetes the same way!

Just as in the case of mistaken shepherd identity, I choose not to participate in the battle of whether mutts or purebreds are superior. If I do manage to get suckered into such a discussion, I employ a unique strategy. I encourage the debaters to adjourn their arguments and work together towards a common goal. You see, whether a person prefers mongrels or purebreds, what they have in common, beside their love of dogs, is the desire to eradicate puppy mills, those large scale breeding operations that produce puppies for profit, often under inhumane conditions.

I suggest they use their mutual passion to teach others to avoid puppy mill purchases by never, ever buying a pup from a pet store or online, sight (and site) unseen. I encourage the mutt versus purebred debaters to invest their energies in telling people that by buying online or from a pet shop, they may be inadvertently committing the next 10 to 15 years of their lives to taking care of an adorable, but inherently unhealthy, product of a puppy mill. One less puppy mill purchase is one step closer to their extinction.

What happens when I interrupt the “great debate” with my suggestion? Sometimes I’m viewed as if I am from another planet. Most of the time, my comments prompt some constructive and positive discussion with heads nodding in agreement, at least for a few minutes before the conversation returns to squabbling about mutts versus purebreds.

What about you? Have you ever participated in this great debate?

Photo credit: Chow, Flickr Creative Commons (Llima)

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Veterinarians — especially the younger ones — are struggling financially, and they’re not planning to ever live much more lavishly, because they know the world is changing around them.

The old model of a veterinary hospital as a locally owned small business is under pressure from all sides. And while that’s definitely not good for young veterinarians, it may not be all that good for pet-owners either, even if the transition model — lower-priced drug options outside the veterinary hospital and the cost of veterinary service still being shifted to the old-school in-house pharmacy– means lower overall costs for pet healthcare now.

The change in where you buy medication is but one of the earliest and, so far, the biggest waves to challenge the how veterinarians traditionally do business. But for a generation of younger veterinarians already drowning in educational debt, that wave looks like the beginning of a tsunami.

Or an invasion.  By barbarians, no less.

“It’s a provocative title,” acknowledged Dr. Lowell Ackerman, giving the Pfizer-sponsored dawn lecture, “Barbarians at the Gate: Managing the Veterinary Pharmacy in a Time of Extreme Outside Competition,” at the North American Veterinary Conference here in Orlando. (Note: Pfizer is a PetConnection.com sponsor.)

In truth, the barbarians are already inside the gate, and most of the couple hundred veterinarians in attendance knew it well before Dr. Ackerman started speaking.

What they were there to learn were the terms of surrender.

“It’s not a sustainable business model to sell products at substantially higher prices than elsewhere,” said Ackerman, noting that any attempt to defend higher prices to customers isn’t going to end well. And in fact, he argued, it’s a lost cause:  Clients who already take their drug purchases elsewhere aren’t coming back to make those purchases, he said, and those who haven’t yet changed their drug-buying habits need a reason to stay.

There were some mild suggestions for counter-insurgency: Veterinarians can choose name-brand medications specifically labeled for veterinary use over human generic equivalents. While human pharmacies can sell veterinary medications, few choose to, at least so far, keeping the business  mostly in house.  But that isn’t expected to remain the situation for long, said Ackerman, with the big-box chain Target already experimenting with selling veterinary-labeled medications. Ackerman also noted that veterinarians can choose injectible medications when warranted, a shot being something that won’t be sold outside the practice.

But the overarching message wasn’t one of resistance, but change. Veterinarians will need to charge closer to what their services really cost, since they can no longer shift costs to their pharmacy, and they will need to make sure pet-owners are getting good value for those services. Convenience — the ability to buy a pet’s medication on the spot — is one measure of value, but the price competition limits it: $5 vs. $25-40 for the same prescription of a human generic is going to have all but the most time-stressed customer thinking of going elsewhere. But if veterinarians add in the convenience of Web-based refills, auto-reminders and home delivery through a hospital’s website, Ackerman said, the balance may tip in their favor. And he again stressed the need for better service from veterinarians, who must, after all, be both doctor and pharmacist to their patients, with the responsibilities of both something no high-volume, deep discount pharmacy is willing or able to take on.

Still, what the changes mean in the long run is still but an educated guess as the global economy reshapes itself and the big box players get bigger and more powerful.  I tell you this, though, based on the perspective of a couple decades of covering the pet-care field: If I had a child interested in being a veterinarian, I’d be tempted to suggest she follow her heart into something that she can make a better living at, like … oh …  getting a Ph.D. in medieval English literature.

This story, as they say in the news biz, is still developing. Stay tuned.

***

Alarming conference development: I came back to the room after it was cleaned and found a massive tick on the bathroom mirror (picture above). At first glance, I thought it was some kind of warning about bed bugs from the Marriott management, but then I realized the hotel had been paid to have housekeeping staff put the tick ad in my hotel bathroom. The lone star tick may well be on the move (and in fact, all ticks are, per a lecture at the AVMA conference last summer), but the one place I don’t want any ticks inserted is in a room I’ve paid for expecting privacy. Advertising FAIL.

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